Overview

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Biosecurity is one of our nation's premier concerns since September 11, 2001. This concern not only includes defending the nation from direct attacks to people, but also from: 1) attacks that attempt to disrupt America's ability to feed itself and the world, and 2) unintentional events that could have the same devastating effects. A single plant or animal disease outbreak not brought quickly into check could drastically affect our ability to keep our animals and plants healthy. Furthermore, an outbreak even on a very limited scale could undermine consumer confidence in the food supply if it is mishandled. CSREES and its land-grant university partners play a major role in helping to monitor and prevent such outbreaks.

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In Focus

• CSREES hosts security workshop to increase awareness of potential security threats and encourage use of protective measures at land-grant university partners.
• CSREES directed the multi-agency effort to develop an Avian Influenza Lesson Plan for high school science students.
• The National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) provides laboratory testing to those who cultivate ornamental plants commercially and privately.
• The Regional Integrated Pest Management Centers lead land-grant university extension efforts that provide information on insect, disease, and weedy pests.
• CSREES supports the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN), which links disaster preparedness and recovery information to the public and to educators.
• Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank scientists have developed and standardized methods to interpret and compare complex raw chemical and biochemical data.


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Partnerships

• APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine Division and CSREES work to ensure that federal and state regulatory efforts are matched with efforts of the NPDN.
• APHIS Veterinary Services Division and CSREES work jointly to ensure that federal and state regulatory efforts are well matched with efforts of the NAHLN.
• The National Agricultural Pest Information System, located at Purdue University, is the central repository for archiving select data collected from the NPDN.

Events

• North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture/CSREES-SERD Conference, Stillwater, OK, June 17-20, 2009.

Selected Results and Impacts

• Arkansass Food Safety Consortium researchers use CSREES funds to study dangerous foodborne bacteria.
• CSREES-funded research in Oregon may help scientists better understand genetic disease resistance in plants.
• A mysterious ailment called Colony Collapse Disorder is the target of CSREES-funded research.


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Resources

• National Plant Diagnostic Network offers on-line and face to face first detector training for anyone likely to first encounter exotic pests in the field.
• Soybean Rust 2007, Iowa State. Web training about the life cycle, inoculum sources, yield effects & disease management, current distribution, & future potential
• University of Kentucky Offers Free Computer-based Agroterrorism Awareness Courses, University of Kentucky.


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Contacts

William Hoffman

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